Creates Veterans Affairs Oversight Board.

A4173

ASSEMBLY, No. 4173

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates Veterans Affairs Oversight Board.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

creating a Veterans Affairs Oversight Board, and supplementing chapter 21 of
Title 38A of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It Enacted

by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a.� There is created in
the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Affairs Oversight Board.� The
board shall be responsible for the oversight of: (1) all veteran service
officers; (2) each board, council, commission, program, and such similar
entity, within the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (3) all programs,
benefits, and services provided specifically to military service members,
veterans, and their families by any State Executive Branch department,
division, commission, or agency.�

���� b.��� The board shall consist
of the head of each veteran 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization
under the Internal Revenue Code operating in the State, or a designee.�

���� c.� The heads of the American
Legion Department of New Jersey, the Disabled American Veterans Department of
New Jersey, and the Department of New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars, or their
designees, shall serve as co-chairs for the first three meetings.� By the
conclusion of the third meeting, the members of the board shall vote to elect a
chair and vice-chair.� The chair and vice-chair elected by a majority vote of
the members of the board shall serve for a term of three years.�

���� d.� For the performance of its
work, the board may request and avail itself of and utilize the service of any
officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who shall render such
assistance as the board may require without additional compensation.�

���� e.� Each member of the board
shall be entitled to be reimbursed for reasonable traveling and other expenses
necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.� In addition, each
member shall receive a per diem allowance of $1,000 for each monthly meeting of
the board attended, provided, however, that no member shall in any case receive
per diem compensation as such member in an amount in excess of $12,000 for any
one calendar year.

���� f.� The board shall establish
procedures for the conduct of its meetings and activities.

���� 2.� a.� The board shall meet
once in each calendar month, but no less than 11 such monthly meetings per
calendar year.� The failure of a member of the board to participate in a
minimum of one monthly meeting every eight months shall result in removal of that
board member.� The member shall be replaced by another representative from the
same organization.�

���� b.� The board may hold such
additional meetings as it may deem necessary and appropriate.

���� A meeting of the board may be
called by the chair or by a majority of its members, and a majority of the
entire authorized membership of the board shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting thereof.�

���� c.� The board may hold public
meetings and hearings at such places and at such times as it shall designate,
at which it may solicit the testimony of interested persons, groups, and the
general public.

���� 3.� a. �(1)� Each Executive
Branch department, division, commission, and agency that provides programs,
benefits, and services specifically for military service members, veterans, and
their families shall appoint a liaison to the board.� The liaison shall not be
a member of the board, but shall act as the point of contact to the board.�

���� (2)� Each Executive Branch
department, division, commission, and agency that provides programs, benefits,
and services specifically to military service members, veterans, and their
families shall provide a biannual report to the board.� The report shall describe
in detail such programs, benefits, and services provided to military service
members, veterans, and their families, the number of persons assisted, plans to
expand to reach additional military service members, veterans, and their
families, and such other information deemed necessary and appropriate by the
board.�

���� (3)� Each Executive branch
department, division, commission, and agency that provides programs, benefits,
and services specifically to military service members, veterans, and their
families, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall annually present
to the board that portion of their State and federal, if applicable, budget
that represents those programs, benefits, and services.

���� b.� (1)� Each board, council,
commission, and such similar entity, within the Department of Veterans Affairs
shall appoint a liaison to the board.� The liaison shall not be a member of the
board, but shall act as the point of contact to the board.�

���� (2)� Each board, council,
commission, and such similar entity, within the Department of Veterans Affairs
shall provide a biannual report to the board.� The report shall describe in
detail such programs, benefits, and services provided to military service
members, veterans, and their families, the number of persons assisted, plans to
expand to reach additional military service members, veterans, and their
families, and such other information deemed necessary and appropriate by the
board.�

���� The department shall, upon
request and when available, provide copies of the reports of the contractors
relating to military mission maintenance and growth, subject to the provisions
of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.).

���� c.� Each liaison shall attend
the monthly meetings of the board, and shall attend no less than 10 monthly
meetings per year.� The failure of a liaison to participate in a minimum of one
monthly meeting every 10 months shall result in removal of that liaison.� The
liaison shall be replaced by another employee who shall serve as liaison.�

���� 4.� a.� The responsibilities
of the board shall be to coordinate and implement a strategic plan to ensure
military service members, veterans, and their families are made aware of the
programs, benefits, and services available to them, and to ensure that all
State departments, divisions, commissions, and agencies are effectively
delivering programs, benefits, and services that are comprehensive to military
service members, veterans, and their families in this State.�

���� It shall be the duty of the
board to conduct an analysis of the various programs, benefits and services provided
by the State specifically to military service members, veterans, and their
families, and to evaluate those programs, benefits, and services to assess
their effectiveness.

���� The board shall also analyze
and evaluate with regard to veterans who reside in the State: accessibility of
the programs, benefits, or services; educational, occupational training,
employment, and business opportunities; physical and behavioral health and
long-term health care options; criminal justice issues; housing opportunities
and homelessness; and special needs as determined by the board.

���� b.� The board shall provide a
report detailing the strategic plan based upon comprehensive data acquired
through engagement with State departments, divisions, commissions, and
agencies, and military service members, veterans, and their families.

���� c.���� The board shall develop
recommendations to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature to address
any deficiencies in the provision of programs, benefits and services
specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families in this
State. �The recommendations shall address specifically whether the existing
State programs, benefits, and services are adequate to meet the existing needs
of military service members, veterans, and their families; are being used to
fulfill objectives in a manner that complements and leverages State, federal,
and private resources; and how they may more effectively serve all current and
future military service members, veterans, and their families in the State.

���� d.� All reports of the board
shall be posted on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.�

���� 5.� The board shall prepare
and submit a report to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2
of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within nine months of the organizational
meeting of the board.� Thereafter, the board shall prepare and submit annual
reports to the Governor and the Legislature containing its findings,
activities, and recommendations, including any recommendations for
administrative and legislative action that it deems appropriate.�

���� 6.� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs shall include in the annual budget request of
the Department of Veterans Affairs a request for sufficient funds to effectuate
the purposes of this act, P.L.�� , c.�� (C.�� )(pending before the Legislature
as this bill).

���� 7.� This act shall take effect
on the first day of the third month next following enactment, except that the Commissioner
of the Department of Veterans Affairs may take any anticipatory administrative
action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill creates, in the
Department of Veterans Affairs, a Veterans Affairs Oversight Board.� The board
will be responsible for the oversight of: (1) all veteran service officers; (2)
each board, council, commission, program, and such similar entity, within the
Department of Veterans Affairs; and (3) all programs, benefits, and services
provided specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families
by any State Executive Branch department, division, commission, or agency.

���� The board will consist of the
head of each veteran organization in the State with a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19)
tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.

���� The heads of the American
Legion Department of New Jersey, the Disabled American Veterans Department of
New Jersey, and the Department of New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars will
serve as co-chairs for the first three meetings.� By the conclusion of the third
meeting, the members will vote to elect a chair and vice-chair.� The chair and
vice-chair will serve for a term of three years.

���� Each member of the board will
be entitled to be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses necessarily
incurred in the performance of their duties.� In addition, each member will
receive a per diem allowance of $1,000 for each monthly meeting attended.� The
failure of a member of the board to participate in a minimum number of monthly
meetings will result in removal of that board member.

���� Each Executive Branch
department, division, commission, and agency, as well as the veteran service
officers, and each board, council, commission, and such similar entity, within
the Department of Veterans Affairs will appoint a liaison to the board.� The
liaison will act as the point of contact to the board.� Each liaison will
attend the monthly meetings of the board.� The failure to participate in a
minimum number of meetings will result in removal of that liaison.

���� The liaison will provide a
biannual report to the board.� The report will describe in detail such
programs, benefits, and services provided, and such other information deemed
necessary and appropriate by the board.� Each Executive branch department, division,
commission, and agency will also annually present to the board that portion of
their State and federal, if applicable, budget that represents those programs,
benefits, and services.

���� The bill also requires the
Department of Veterans Affairs, upon request and when available, to provide
copies of reports of the contractor relating to military mission maintenance
and growth, subject to the provisions of the law commonly referred to as the
Open Public Records Act.

���� Under the bill, the
responsibilities of the board will be to coordinate and implement a strategic
plan to ensure military service members, veterans, and their families are made
aware of the programs, benefits, and services available to them, and to ensure
that all State departments, divisions, commissions, and agencies are
effectively delivering programs, benefits, and services that are comprehensive
to military service members, veterans, and their families in this State.

���� The board will also conduct an
analysis of the various programs, benefits, and services provided by the State
specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families, and
evaluate those programs, benefits, and services to assess their effectiveness.

���� In addition, the board will
analyze and evaluate with regard to veterans who reside in the State:
accessibility of the programs, benefits, or services; educational, job skills,
employment, and business opportunities; physical and behavioral health and long-term
healthcare options; criminal justice issues; housing opportunities and
homelessness; and special needs as determined by the board.

���� The bill requires the board to
provide a report detailing a strategic plan based upon comprehensive data
acquired through engagement with State departments, divisions, commissions, and
agencies, and military service members, veterans, and their families.

���� The board will develop
recommendations to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature to address
any deficiencies in the provision of programs, benefits, and services
specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families in this
State. The recommendations will address specifically whether the existing State
programs, benefits, and services are adequate to meet the existing needs of
military service members, veterans, and their families; are being used to
fulfill objectives in a manner that complements and leverages State, federal,
and private resources; and how they may more effectively serve all current and
future military service members, veterans, and their families in the State of
New Jersey.

���� Under the bill, the board will
prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within nine
months of the organizational meeting of the board.� Thereafter, the board will
prepare and submit annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature
containing its findings, activities, and recommendations, including any
recommendations for administrative and legislative action that it deems
appropriate.

���� All reports of the board will
be prominently posted on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

���� The Commissioner of the
Department of Veterans Affairs will include in the annual budget request of the
department a request for sufficient funds to effectuate the purposes of the
bill.